Satellite services for a modern EU railway system Roma, April 18 th 2013 Angelo Chiappini
Overview What is the European Railway Agency Main objectives for a modern railway system Opportunities for space assets Main challenges Activities April 18th 2013 Roma - 2013 ARTES Application Workshop 2
What does the Agency do for whom? European Railway Agency (ERA), Valenciennes (F) established 2004/2005, approx. 155 staff core domains: Interoperability, Safety, ERTMS** * Technical Specification for Interoperability **European Rail Traffic Management System (the harmonised control-command and signalling system) April 18th 2013 Roma - 2013 ARTES Application Workshop 3
Process for production and adoption of ERA recommendations Sector organisations acting at EU level*: ALE, CER, EPTTOLA, EIM, ERFA, ETF, UIP, UIRR, UITP, UNIFE representatives / experts National Safety Authorities experts European Railway Agency Working Party Working Party Working Party. Adoption Parliament Commission RISC* opinion recommendations Social Partners Passengers / customers * List established by the Committee in February 2005, amended in October 2009 * Railway Interoperability and Safety Committee (Member States) April 18th 2013 Roma - 2013 ARTES Application Workshop 4
Challenges for the railways of the future Revitalising the rail sector (environment reduction of greenhouse gas emissions): Improvement of efficiency and quality Removal of bottlenecks (physical and «administrative») Reduction of costs Opening to competition within the rail sector April 18th 2013 Roma - 2013 ARTES Application Workshop 5
Why interoperability? Opening of the railway service market Different roles for Infrastructure Managers and Railway Undertakings Competition between Railway Undertakings Opening of the railway products market Technical compatibility EU wide authorisations Competition between suppliers Interoperability Uninterrupted movement of trains Maintaining the high safety level of railways Harmonisation of parameters Standardisation Lower costs April 18th 2013 Roma - 2013 ARTES Application Workshop 6
How to achieve interoperability Interoperability Harmonisation of parameters parameters Track gauge railway functions Tracking of wagons and freight Support for safe management of traffic Power system Train localisation Ground train communication Voice communication between operators Services for passengers (internet, ) Operational rules April 18th 2013 Roma - 2013 ARTES Application Workshop 7
Opportunities for satellite applications Non safety related: e.g., freight tracking, information to passengers ERA is highly interested in safety related applications, such as: Train localisation (including odometry space and speed measurement) and data communication for train protection Satellite positioning: Studies and tests performed and in progress Strengths and weaknesses Trackside equipment subject to pilfering and vandalism Improvement of odometry performance; train integrity detection Other improvements (e.g., safety at level crossings LeCross; SafeRail) Geographical constraints (tunnels need of keeping other systems on-board) Goals Cost effective solutions (mainly for non-eu market?) Compatibility with the development of the harmonised signalling system ERTMS (critical for EU market and advantageous for global market) April 18th 2013 Roma - 2013 ARTES Application Workshop 8
Satellite communication: Opportunities for satellite applications Communication Studies and tests performed and in progress Global coverage; applicability for multiple applications Main challenge is managing the different life cycle of equipment for safe management of traffic and communication equipment Goals Compatibility with the development of the harmonised signalling system ERTMS (critical for EU market and advantageous for global market) Independence between traffic management functions and communication systems: following the evolution of communication without re-design of traffic management functions Migration strategy from the communication system currently used (GSM-R) to new communication systems Interoperability between areas where different communication systems are used April 18th 2013 Roma - 2013 ARTES Application Workshop 9
Opportunities for satellite applications Summarising Strong interest of ERA in research related to use of satellite localisation and communication Securing the results achieved with ERTMS with respect to technological development Preventing the need of re-design and the risk of non-interoperability due to evolutions of communication systems Supporting the application of ERTMS in new markets Cost effective solutions for localisation, odometry and communication April 18th 2013 Roma - 2013 ARTES Application Workshop 10
Challenges Performance Accuracy of satellite localisation; reliability and availability of service Capacity of satellite communication systems; which services can be supported by the same system; coverage; quality of service Migration Compatibility with current systems Capability of supporting EU-wide uninterrupted movement of trains (e.g., switching from a communication provider to another) Certification and authorisation Allocation of responsibility for safety critical applications, when services of a provider are used (railway companies usually manage and are responsible of all systems they use; changes in the approach are necessary) Coordination with the EU law April 18th 2013 Roma - 2013 ARTES Application Workshop 11
Activities The European Railway Agency is interested in the cooperation with ESA Following and evaluating results of already started activities (e.g., 3InSat) Identifying research needs and preparing calls (e.g., on a certification scheme for satellite communication for railways) Dissemination of achievements of research and study in the railway sector: making stakeholders aware of opportunities and incorporating space in the standardisation activities for railways Dissemination of railway needs in the space sector: orienting the developments in order to support the growth of railway transport ensuring economically viable migration April 18th 2013 Roma - 2013 ARTES Application Workshop 12
We make the railway system work better for society era.europa.eu April 18th 2013 Roma - 2013 ARTES Application Workshop 13